Tucked inside Webb Hall on Lake Land College’s (LLC) campus, Room 114 is the birthplace of Louiesaurus Rex, The Innovation Lab. Spearheaded by Scott Rhine, Special Assistant to the VP of Academic Services and longtime IT instructor of 27 years.
Originally the designated computer lab for Webb Hall, the space was intentionally left without a door to allow easy access. But after renovations placed computers in the hallway, the lab’s original purpose faded. That’s when Rhine saw an opportunity. He proposed a bold idea to President Josh Bullock: convert the unused computer lab into an Innovation Lab and add a door.
Rhine moved in and began reshaping the space, bringing in 3D printers, and even welcoming a student’s modified machine into the mix. “Most of my career has been ask for forgiveness rather than permission,” he quipped, reflecting on how he just moved to the innovation lab and began transforming it without any formal paperwork or process. A door was installed the spring break of 2012, sealing off the fate of the space and marking what could be considered the unofficial beginning of The Innovation Lab.
Over the years, the Innovation Lab’s 3D printers have evolved, in the early days according to Rhine, printing 20 objects to ensure 10 were usable/perfect was standard practice, and extras were insurance against defects. Today, the printer is smart enough to detect errors mid-print, halt the process, and even send a text alert directly to Rhine when something goes wrong. The older machines aren’t discarded the moment the new ones arrived, they are modified, repurposed and used or stored as backup. Meaning there are five 3d printers that are used regularly and six more that are not used constantly as they have a history to them in the lab.
Do students have access to The Innovation Lab and its 3D printers? Yes and No…
Hands-on and direct access to the lab is reserved for those enrolled in an innovation class taught Rhine, that runs every spring and summer semester. In the class, students dive into the world of Arduino-based innovation, starting with studying and understanding the Arduino uno kit and progressing toward building their own creations, incorporating the Arduino into their creation.
The project is entirely student-driven: each participant selects a concept and spends the semester bringing it to life. When a project calls for custom parts or elements, that’s where the lab’s 3D printers come into play. Students get to design, print, and refine components as part of their creative process. In Rhine’s words “Failure is an option”, and most classes are started with “Wouldn’t it be cool if…”
The final exam is an open house, a mini science fair where students showcase their inventions, explain their process, and share their work with visitors. Here are a few projects made in the past:
1 is a Led lighting that can be found on the wall in the innovation lab. 2&3 is a drawing of Laker Louie and Dr Bullock drawn with a Polar CNC machine made by the students. 4 is the iconic Louiesaurus in his place of birth. 5, 6, 7 & 8 are other projects embedded with an Arduino made by students.
So, if you’re the kind of student who learns by doing, who wants to build, code, create, and showcase your work, then the Innovation Lab/class is calling. Enroll in the Spring Innovation class and gain hands-on access to 3D printers, Arduino kits, and a space designed for invention. You’ll spend the semester designing your own project, then present it at a campus open house that celebrates creativity and tech, all at your pace.
No limits. Just you, your ideas and the tools to make them real.
